To this point, Branden Oliver’s college career hasn’t gone according to plan.

As a senior running back at Southridge High School in Miami, Oliver watched Turner Gill coach the Buffalo Bulls to the 2008 Mid-American Conference championship game, where they upset undefeated Ball State 42-24.

After that eight-win season, Oliver signed with the program in February 2009.

But Gill left for Kansas after 2009 — a season in which Oliver redshirted — and was replaced by Jeff Quinn, the offensive coordinator for Brian Kelly at Cincinnati and Central Michigan.

Since Quinn took over, Buffalo has won only nine games and hasn’t reached a bowl game since 2008. These are circumstances Oliver never anticipated.

“Most definitely,” he said when asked whether he expected abowl bid by now. “I felt like we would’ve had one last year if I hadn’t been the one who got hurt (knee injury). But we never know those things, so you have to move on. It’s my last chance now on the field.”

Oliver’s last chance begins today when Buffalo opens its season at Ohio State, although the opening kickoff is hardly the focus.

“Take it one day at a time and work hard. I believe that will lead us to a MAC championship, a bowl game,” he said. “That’s the goal.”

Though perhaps not in the win column, Oliver has enjoyed success on the field in his own right. In 2011, he rushed for 1,395 yards, setting a season school record, along with 13 touchdowns. He stands 626 yards shy of Buffalo’s all-time rushing mark.

This offseason, he was named to watch lists for the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s top player, and the Doak Walker Award (best running back).

All of this comes after being forced to adjust to a different style of offense under Quinn, who favors a no-huddle, spread system, rather than the grind-it-out style under Gill that attracted the 5-foot-8, 208-pound Oliver to Buffalo in the first place.

“It’s a good offense,” Oliver said of Quinn’s system. “We were just running too much laterally, sideline to sideline. And I like to run downhill, things like that. That was different.”

He has grown accustomed to the spread, though, and the staff has adjusted to his running style too, he said.

“I’m better at it,” he said, before adding, “but I like to run downhill.”

He continued to impress last season, rushing for 821 yards despite being out for five games because of a torn knee ligament.

But the numbers stand meaningless, mostly. After a total of 14 victories in his four years at Buffalo, he wants to win now, and not stay home for Christmas. The Bulls want to go to a bowl.

“When I was younger they (the numbers) meant something,” Oliver said. “But right now, I’m just trying to get a ring. I’m just trying to win and accomplish team goals.”